By Tom Marshall

The Monterrey boss says that his decision to rest key players for a league match was a prudent one.

Monterrey coach Victor Manuel Vucetich would not blame Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Toluca on his decision to leave important players on the bench.

“Just as we lost, it could’ve easily been a victory and the situation would’ve been different,” Vucetich told the press after the game.

A 71st minute goal from Juan Carlos Cacho was the difference between the sides as Monterrey slipped to 12th place in the Liga MX with just four rounds of games remaining.

Usual starters Humbero Suazo, Aldo de Nigris, Jesus Zavala and Jose Maria Basanta all started on the bench for Monterrey, although Vucetich wouldn’t admit it was because the squad has one eye on Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League semifinal second leg against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

“It is a decision that I took, which I thought about and that was prudent and nothing more,” he stated.

Experienced defender Ricardo Osorio said the defeat against Toluca does no rule out Rayados making the playoffs.

“We’ll fight, it won’t be easy, we have two tournaments and that is very difficult,” explained Osorio.

The attention in Monterrey now turns to the Galaxy, with Osorio stating that the team won’t be letting up in the CCL as the Rayados aim to yet again reach the final.

“We’ve got a good start (2-1 from the first leg), but we’re not overconfident, we have to think it is a 0-0 game,” said the World Cup 2010 veteran. “It would be historic for us to play a third consecutive final.”